May 1, 2024
Updated May 9, 2025
18 minute read
Dark energy is a mysterious and pervasive form of energy that scientists propose to explain the accelerating expansion of our universe. It's not something we can directly see or measure in a laboratory; instead, its existence is inferred from its large-scale effects on the cosmos. Imagine throwing a ball up in the air. You'd expect gravity to slow it down and eventually bring it back to Earth. For a long time, cosmologists expected something similar for the universe – that the gravitational pull of all the matter within it would gradually slow down its expansion after the Big Bang. However, observations have shown the opposite: the universe's expansion is speeding up. Dark energy is the term given to this unknown "something" that counteracts gravity on cosmic scales, pushing everything apart at an ever-increasing rate. Current estimates suggest that dark energy makes up a significant portion of the universe, around 68% to 70% of its total energy and matter content.
kw4nhg|
Find a path to becoming a Dark Energy. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/topic/kw4nhg/dark
Reading list
We've selected seven books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Dark Energy.
Provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of dark energy, covering both observational and theoretical aspects. It is written in a clear and engaging style, making it suitable for both general readers and students.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dark energy, covering its history, observational evidence, and theoretical models. It is written in a clear and accessible style, making it suitable for both general readers and students.
Provides a detailed overview of the Dark Energy Survey, a major international collaboration to study dark energy. It is written by leading experts in the field and is suitable for researchers and advanced students.
Explores the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, providing a comprehensive overview of both topics. It is written in a clear and engaging style, making it suitable for both general readers and students.
Provides a concise and accessible overview of dark energy, focusing on the observational evidence and theoretical models. It is written in a clear and engaging style, making it suitable for both general readers and students.
Provides a concise and accessible overview of dark energy, focusing on the observational evidence and theoretical models. It is written in a clear and engaging style, making it suitable for both general readers and students.
Explores the possible futures of the universe, including the possibility that dark energy will eventually lead to the Big Freeze or the Big Rip. It is written in a clear and engaging style, making it suitable for both general readers and students.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/kw4nhg/dark
Save
